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Esophagus Center

Our doctors lead the way in treating esophageal disorders with unmatched expertise and the latest technological advancements. We develop personalized treatment plans to help you live your most healthy life.

Team-based approach to diagnosis and treatment through collaborative multispecialty clinics and a weekly clinical meeting involving doctors from multiple specialties. Go to Your Care Team

Comprehensive support services to help you and your family focus on health and healing, including nutrition counseling. Go to Support Services

Easy access to care for diagnosis and treatment through two convenient locations. Go to Accessing Care

Nationally Recognized

Conditions Treated

We have decades of experience diagnosing and treating many rare and common esophageal disorders. Our doctors lecture nationally and internationally on esophageal topics, are recognized as world leaders in esophagology, edit top gastrointestinal medical journals, and work with medical advisory boards to develop national care protocols for treating esophageal conditions.

Our entire team works together and with you to develop a care plan best suited to your specific needs. Your treatment may include one or several therapies to help you best manage the condition and its symptoms. Our experts provide treatment for many esophageal conditions, including:

Gastroenterologists Nielsen Fernandez/Becker, MD, PhD and George Triadafilopoulos, MD, discuss advancing the standard of care for esophageal conditions, including new treatments such as ablation for Barrett’s esophagus, a common cause of esophageal cancer.
The Esophagus Center at Stanford Health Care brings together multidisciplinary specialists who are active in clinical trial research, which in turn advances treatment options and services to help people living with esophageal conditions, like Barrett’s Esophagus.
Learn More:
Stanford Esophagus Center: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-clinics/esophagus-center.html
Nielsen Fernandez-Becker, MD, PhD: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/f/nielsen-fernandezbecker.html
George Triadafilopoulos, MD: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/t/george-triadafilopoulos.html
Barrett’s Esophagus: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-conditions/digestion-and-metabolic-health/barretts-esophagus1.html
Ablation for Barrett’s Esophagus: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/medical-treatments/a/ablation-for-barretts-esophagus.html

Esophageal Disorders Treatment

Your Stanford team uses advanced technologies not found elsewhere to accurately diagnose and effectively treat a variety of esophageal disorders. Our doctors collaborate to develop a personalized treatment plan and use minimally invasive therapies whenever possible.

INNOVATION HIGHLIGHTS

Stanford is one of the only health care centers in the San Francisco Bay Area offering diagnostic testing and minimally-invasive treatment with advanced therapies for many esophageal disorders, including:

Cryoballoon: Using a special catheter and balloon, your doctor uses cold energy to destroy precancerous cells caused by Barrett’s esophagus.

Stretta®: This procedure uses radiofrequency energy to help tighten the junction between your esophagus and stomach, reducing the symptoms of GERD.

LINX®: Your doctor crafts a special magnet bracelet that fits around the outside of your esophagus, preventing the symptoms of GERD while allowing you to eat and drink normally.

Advanced Diagnostics

Our experts excel at using advanced functional testing to plan effective, personalized treatment for your unique needs. We offer a full range of motility, distensibility and reflux tests to pinpoint the cause of many esophageal conditions.

Motility studies

High-resolution esophageal manometry helps determine how swallowing certain foods and liquids brings on symptoms. Stanford experts have advanced training in using specialized techniques that bring on symptoms to help determine the cause of the problem.

Our doctors use this diagnostic study during endoscopy to measure esophageal diameter and distensibility, or how far the esophagus can stretch. The results help detect subtle strictures and monitor your response to achalasia therapies.

Barrett’s esophagus technologies

Because Barrett’s esophagus can lead to serious complications, our doctors are committed to providing an accurate diagnosis using the latest technology.

Confocal endomicroscopy during endoscopy allows your doctor to visualize microscopic changes to your esophagus in real time. This technology helps find areas of concern in people being monitored for Barrett’s esophagus.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) uses a specialized laser to determine how deeply the condition is affecting the layers of your esophagus tissue.

Reflux testing

This type of testing provides a thorough analysis of acid reflux and the symptoms it causes. We use two techniques:

pH impedance using a special catheter, or tube, to measure acid reflux for 24 hours

Bravo procedure in which your doctor endoscopically places a special wireless pH probe that measures stomach acid for up to 96 hours

Treatments

Our experts have an international reputation for excellence in developing and providing effective treatments for many esophageal conditions. We make your treatment plan personal to you and use noninvasive options whenever possible to help meet your goals for treatment.

Dietary and lifestyle changes

We work with you to develop healthy dietary and lifestyle habits that could help stop symptoms of certain esophageal conditions.

Medications

Certain medications are sometimes enough to stop symptoms. Your doctor can help you determine if medication is a good treatment choice for you. Medications commonly used include:

Antacids to help neutralize stomach acid.

H2 blockersto stimulate certain cells in the stomach to produce acid.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to reduce stomach acid.

Complementary therapies

For some people, complementary therapies like herbal therapy and acupuncture provide effective symptom relief. Doctors and therapists at the Center for Integrative Medicine work with you to determine how complementary treatments may enhance your treatment plan.

Medical nutrition therapy

Certain esophageal disorders, like dysphagia, can prevent you from getting adequate nutrition. If needed, we work with you to ensure that you receive enough nutrients each day. Our dedicated nutritionist can work with you to customize a plan geared to your individual needs.

Endoscopy

These treatments use a thin, flexible tube with a light source and special equipment to access the interior of your esophagus and, if needed, take tissue samples (biopsies). Our doctors specialize in these endoscopic treatments:

For some esophageal conditions, treatment using a laparoscopic surgical approach can provide long-lasting, effective symptom relief.

This type of surgery uses small abdominal incisions to access the interior of your abdomen, where our doctors use specialized cameras and surgical instruments to treat your esophagus. We offer laparoscopic procedures for certain esophageal conditions:

Our surgeons have extensive expertise performing complex, gastrointestinal and thoracic (chest) surgeries, including those areas between the neck and abdomen. Using the latest techniques backed by clinical research, we work to correct the cause of esophageal disorders with unmatched knowledge and skill:

Clinical Trials

We offer one of the nation’s most robust clinical trial programs for esophageal conditions. These research studies evaluate new medical approaches, devices, drugs, and other treatments.

As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may be eligible to participate in open clinical trials. Open trials refer to studies currently recruiting participants or that may recruit participants in the near future. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but similar studies may open in the future.

To learn more about the clinical trials we offer, contact Divya Pathak at 650-721-8436.

Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.

Your Esophagus Center Care Team

Every day, our doctors collaborate with nurses, registered dietitians, and other health care professionals to develop and implement the most effective care plan for you. Doctors from multiple specialties meet weekly to share ideas and discuss innovative solutions for each person in our care. Some patients may see multiple specialists during the same visit in a collaborative clinic.

Our Esophagus Center doctors collaborate with many different Stanford specialists. As our patient, you’ll benefit from a direct connection with other disciplines to enhance your treatment plan. Many of the specialties we collaborate with include:

Surgeons

If your treatment involves surgery, our talented gastrointestinal and general surgeons work with your Esophagus Center care team to plan surgery and educate you on what to expect next. Our surgeons use advanced surgical techniques to treat many types of esophageal and gastrointestinal conditions.

Otolaryngologists

Occasionally, our doctors work with otolaryngologists specializing in disorders of the ear, nose, and throat at the Voice and Swallowing Clinic. If necessary, your care could include consultations and treatment recommendations from these specialists.

Stanford is an Academic Medical Center, which is a type of hospital setting where doctors teach the entire spectrum of medical education. Students range from beginning medical students to fully licensed and practicing doctors completing advanced sub-specialty training. Stanford Medicine is a partnership between Stanford University School of Medicine and Stanford Health Care. Since Stanford is a teaching hospital, you can expect to meet many providers and providers in training.

Attending Physician: a doctor who supervises doctors in training or in medical school

Fellow: a doctor doing postgraduate level work and specializing in care of patients with specific conditions

Resident: a doctor who has graduated from medical school and is in training (also called “residency”) here at Stanford. A resident is also called an intern

Medical Student: a student who is currently enrolled in medical school with the goal of becoming a doctor

Extended Care Team

Advanced Practice Providers

Our nurse practitioners have received additional years of education and training to best help patients live healthier lives. These professionals work in close collaboration with your doctor or surgeon.

ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS

Monica Nandwani, NP

Nurse Practitioner

Monica Nandwani, NP

Nurse Practitioner

Registered Dietitians

Registered dietitians are experts in food and nutrition. They work with you to develop a plan for making healthy diet changes that may help reduce or prevent symptoms of some esophageal conditions.

Neha Shah, RD
Nutritionist

Care Coordinators

Our patient care coordinators help you with appointment scheduling and access to resources to help guide you through your experience at the Esophagus Center.

Medical Assistants

Medical assistants work with our team to help provide care. As part of your individual care plan, a medical assistant may prepare you for an examination, assist your doctor during the examination, or take a sample of your blood.

Research Coordinators

Doctors at the Esophagus Center are heavily involved in research efforts to advance our understanding of esophagus conditions and treatments. Our research coordinators help screen candidates for possible participation in clinical research trials.

Speech and Language Pathologists

Our speech pathologists work closely with our Otolaryngologists and provide therapy for conditions that affect the larynx, airway, and upper esophagus.

Support Services

At Stanford, we take care of the details so that you can focus on your health and wellness. Our gastroenterologists, surgeons, and otolaryngologists work as a team with device nurses, advanced practice providers, registered dietitians, and imaging technologists to coordinate every aspect of your care. We also offer a wide range of support services to promote healing and improve your quality of life.

At Stanford, we take care of the details so that you can focus on your health and wellness. Our gastroenterologists, neurologists, surgeons, and otolaryngologists work as a team with device nurses, advanced practice providers, registered dietitians, and imaging technologists to coordinate every aspect of your care. We also offer a wide range of support services to promote healing and improve your quality of life. Learn more about our support services »

Do I need a doctor referral to be seen at the Esophagus Center?

You can call the Esophagus Center directly to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors. Call 650-736-5555 to make an appointment.

Is financial assistance available?

Yes, Stanford Health Care offers financial assistance for patients who are uninsured or underinsured. Meet with one of our financial counselors to find the best approach to paying for your health care. Financial counselors are available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Learn more about financial assistance services »

First Appointment

What can I expect on my first appointment?

Managing treatment for Esophageal Disorders is a highly personalized process. Our care team guides you every step of the way, including:

For your first appointment, you should plan to bring any related test results and your medical history to share with your doctor. Our clinic receptionists will confirm the information you should bring with you prior to your first appointment.

You will also need to have the following information with you when you check in:

Please plan to arrive 20-30 minutes prior to your appointment time due to construction near the main hospital campus. This will allow you plenty of time to park, locate your clinic and complete any additional paperwork.

How do I send my medical record to SHC?

Please print, fill out, and return the Medical Record Release Form to your new patient coordinator. The medical release form is an authorization form for external facilities to release medical records to Stanford Health Care.

Can my family member or friend attend my appointment?

Always feel free to bring someone with you to your appointments. A family member or friend can help ask questions, remember the information your care team gives you, and provide support.

What is the best way to get all my questions answered during my appointment?

Write down your questions before your appointment and rank them in order of importance, beginning with the most important ones. If there isn’t enough time to have all your questions answered during your appointment, ask your doctor who you can speak with to get your other questions answered.

At Stanford, we take care of the details so that you can focus on your health and wellness. Our gastroenterologists, neurologists, surgeons, and otolaryngologists work as a team with device nurses, advanced practice providers, registered dietitians, and imaging technologists to coordinate every aspect of your care. We also offer a wide range of support services to promote healing and improve your quality of life. Learn more about our support services »

How do I cancel or reschedule my appointment?

Please call our clinic receptionists at 650-736-5555. They are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. to help you reschedule or cancel your appointment.

How do I know if a Clinical Trial is right for me?

To determine if a clinical trial is right for you, talk to your doctor. He or she can refer you to a research coordinator for more information on studies that may be right for your specific condition.

You can also find the guidelines for who can participate in a particular clinical trial online. However, it is best to work with your doctor to decide the right care approach for your needs.

For Referring Physicians

PHYSICIAN HELPLINE

Stanford Health Care provides comprehensive services to refer and track patients, as well as the latest information and news for physicians and office staff. For help with all referral needs and questions, visit Referring Physicians.